Hen harrier chicks have successfully fledged at a north Cumbrian nature reserve against the odds.
RSPB staff and volunteers quickly responded to the nests that had youngsters, providing periods of emergency supplementary food, under licence, to the females in an effort to save their chicks. In addition to providing food, staff and volunteers ensured the nests were closely monitored.
Chris Hind, a volunteer at Geltsdale RSPB Reserve ‘’We were incredibly hopeful that our efforts would pay off, but nothing was guaranteed.
“To see these birds take to the sky after weeks of tough work is fantastic but, as with all hen harriers in the UK, these birds face an uncertain future.”
Since 2020, eight breeding males have disappeared whilst foraging away from the Geltsdale reserve.
In 2023 a satellite-tagged male, known as Dagda, was found shot dead on neighbouring moorland. It is highly unusual for a male to naturally desert its nest, and the loss of a male usually has a devastating impact on their breeding success with the female abandoning their nest.
Cumbria police launched an investigation into the suspected illegal killings but to date no charges have been brought, the RSPB said.
The RSPB is calling for greater regulation of the grouse shooting in England through the introduction of a robust licensing system.
Mark Thomas, RSPB head of investigations UK: “Sadly, these missing hen harriers are just the latest in a long line of identical incidents recorded over decades and demonstrates the catastrophic knock-on effect to the breeding success and recovery of this species.
‘Those killing hen harriers to do so with little or no fear of recrimination. Now is the time for the Government to act on licensing this industry, if it is truly serious about the conservation of this amazing species.’
